Louise Anna Van Buren

Louise VanBuren was born Louise Anna Burlage to Henry and Elenora Burlage on October 20, 1927 at the family farm in Cass County Illinois. She survived a flu epidemic as an infant which claimed many lives including that of her 14-year-old brother. Her mother died when she was four, so she was raised through the efforts of her father, sister, several aunts, and grandmother. Her father retired from farming and moved to the town of Arenzville when she was 12. There she was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church. She attended high school at Arenzville Community High. Her father passed away when she was a few weeks shy of her 18th birthday.

She suffered from severe hay fever allergies, so she moved to Colorado on doctor's advice while still 18; travelling with her friend Mae. They both worked at a movie distribution company (RKO Radio Pictures); they received free passes to the theatres. They enjoyed their freedom and found enough time to travel to Kentucky, California, and the Carolinas that summer attesting to their independence. Mae, however, became homesick and they ended up moving back to Illinois after turning 19.

Louise got a job at the Hummer Manufacturing Company (her favorite of her entire life). She worked there for three weeks before contracting polio. The company's health insurance paid every cent of her bills including a month long stay in the hospital and paid half her salary. When she was sufficiently recovered, she went back to her old job until she once again suffered hay fever. A two-hour sneezing fit chased her back to Colorado for good.

She roomed at a boarding house in Denver's Capitol Hill area. She took a job at the phone company and joined the St. John's Lutheran Church Walther League. It was during this time she met Mel, who was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base. He had also joined the Walther League (Lutheran Dating Service).
At first, she was rather cool toward him because all the other Melvin's she knew were either Duds or rather unsavory characters! However, he was good-looking, and she didn't mind the name Mel! Her friends chased him, but he only had eyes for her, and they ended up marrying on February 4, 1951.
They moved to their first home on Meade Street and had three sons, Mike, Randy, and Ted. Then they moved to Colfax and Wadsworth in 1958 so Mike could attend Kindergarten at Bethlehem Lutheran School. While living at Colfax, (a semi-rural area back then), Louise had daughters Karen (still born) and Sheila.

She was a devoted mother and always made sure she offered opportunities for fun and learning. She taught us the love of gardening and preserving food. She took us to the mountains often. She made sure we got to 4-H activities. The Denver Zoo and Museum of Natural History and Library were staples as were visits with the family friends and their children. Though we were probably 'poor' when we were younger we never felt lacking. I don't remember her ever buying things for herself. She and Mel ensured the family always attended church. We made home-made donuts one week, origami Christmas stars the next, and followed up going miniature golfing or picking asparagus.

She loved to play hostess. Whether it was a holiday or family get-together, a Model T Club picnic or a Bible class, she was the glue. Due to the sudden illness of the cook, she even finished the meal and served the crowd at her wedding reception. I think if she had been around when Jesus fed the 5000, she could have provided the dishes for everybody.

The family moved to Wheat Ridge in 1966 and were members at Bethlehem where all the children attended school. During this time, Louise worked part-time at the Montgomery Ward's Catalog Department. She re-joined the phone company when her kids were older. She continued at Mountain Bell until retirement in the early 1990's.

Once she retired, she had the time to spend more time in service to the Lord. She was active in Mary Martha, Ladies Guild, and Bible Study Group.

She enjoyed sewing, gardening, baking, canning, bowling, and traveling. Most of the traveling centered around visiting family and friends. When she was younger, she did a lot of skating as well. Polio came back as post-polio syndrome about a dozen years ago and finally crippled her to the point of being severely mobility-limited. Her eyesight remained exceptional and allowed her to fully enjoy her favorite hobby of reading.

She entered an assisted living facility in 2016 when Mel could no longer care of her to the extent the State demanded. After Mel's passing in 2017 (a few weeks after their 66th anniversary), the State required a higher level of care provided by a skilled nursing home. A stroke robbed her of the use of her left side, but she still enjoyed reading and wrote hundreds of letters to friends and relatives even though she could barely scribble them out.

As the years have passed most of her good friends and relatives have also passed. She has been anxiously awaiting the Lord' call. Her mind and eyesight remained sharp and she often regaled visitors with stories of her youth. Her biggest cares were for the trials and tribulations of her family members and friends. We should remember this day to celebrate the ceasing of her troubles and her joyous journey to the Lord. We should put our cares and loss behind us to help celebrate HER victory over sin and death. As she often said, 91 years is plenty long to live.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Mel, her parents, brothers and sister, brother and sisters-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law and most of her dearest friends. She is survived by her four adult children and spouses, five grandchildren and spouses, and five great grandchildren.

"Rejoice and be glad, for this is the day the Lord hath made." I just looked out the window and there is a gorgeous sunset a couple of hours after her passing. All the heavens are rejoicing.